Contbol mechanism fob calculating machines



Sept. 9, 1930. J. H. FISILVER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1925 3 Sheets-Fiheet 1l IIHIHI p 9, 1930. J. H. F. SILVER 1,775,326

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4 N My 'JWMM :1 day/v /7. Kai/4 1 5? H 351, flaw attomq Sept. 9, 1930." J. H. F. SILVER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR CALCULATINGlMACHINES Filed Aug. 12. 1925 s sheets-sheet s m n We Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL MECHAIT ISM FOR CALCULATING MACHINES .Application flled August 12, 1925.

This invention is directed to an improve= ment in calculating machines of the keydriven type, as, for example, thecaloulating machine, bearing Number 1,072,933 patented September 9, 1913, wherein a partially-depressed key of any particular column will serve to lock out of possible operation all other keys of that column, and will itself be held in a partially depressed relation to serve in as a visible signal; the partially-depressed action of the particular key also serving through operation of the usual lock retainer,

whereby all keys other than in the particular column are locked, to actuate an audible signal to indicate the faulty operation.

The invention has for one of its objects the provision of means capable of application to the conventional machine without change in the latter, which on the partial operation of the usual segment lever, through partial depression of a key, will cause such segment lever to operate a lock to hold the partially depressed key in its set relation and at the same time prevent any de ression of any other key in the particular co umn.

The column lock of this invention is formed and movable as a unit for each column; is adapted to be operated by the segment lever of that column; and is automatically returned to normal or inoperative position on full depression of the particular key or in the normal operation of the keys of the column.

The invention has for another of its objects to utilize the movement of the lock-retainer bar incident to a partial depression of the key and whereby all the keys other than those of the particular column are locked against operation, to actuate a hammer for sounding an audible alarm.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in elevation. of suflicient parts of a conventional key-operated machine to illustrate the a plication of the improved column lock, an particularly the de- Serial No. 49,795,.

tails of the invention for sounding the audible signal in theoperation of a partially-depressed key.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, the keys being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but looking in the opposite direction.

.Fig. l is a perspective view of the locking slide bar, which under the influence of a partially depressed key looks out all remaining keys of that column.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan of the slide bar with the adjacent keys in section, all parts being in normal positions.

Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the slide bar in operated position, With one key held partially depressed and the other keys locked out.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a broken perspective view of the odd and even key stop levers.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 1.

The invention is here illustrated in connection with a conventional type of machine, and suflicient of the parts of such machine are shown to indicate the application of the improvement thereto. The usual parts will not be specifically described, but referred to generally, it being understood that in such reference, other and similar parts of other particular machines are included, and that no limitation other than as to the details of the improved structure is to be inferred.

The invention comprises a slide bar 1, mounted in the frame of the machine for so sliding movement lengthwise and beneath each column of keys. This bar is formed at its forward end for sliding cooperation with the frame, being for this purpose formed with an offset projection 2, cooperating with an upright 3 of the frame, (see Fig. 9), t guide the slide bar in movement an at the same time form a limit stop for the inoperative movement of the bar under the influence of the spring 4, connected to the bar and frame.

' termed the rear end for pivotal swinging relative to the frame through a link 5 connected to the bar and frame, and the edge of the slide bar is formed or provided with lateral lugs 6, one for each key of the column.

The keys 7 are of the usual formation, except for the. fact that each key within the ran e of the slide bar when the key is operate is provided with a pin 8. 1 These pms 8 of the keys and lugs 6 of the slide bar cooperate to insure the locking of a partiallydepressed key in such relation, and the simultaneous lock-out of all other keys of the column.

The slide bar at the link connected end is provided with an otlset section 9, having its rear edge portion above the plane of the slide bar, and in the path of a roller 10, carried by the segment leverll, which is other wise of the conventional formation and operation.' The offset portion 9 of the slide bar is preferably formed with a cam depression 12, to insure that the operation of the seg-' ment lever will actuate the slide bar, the cooperation and relative dispositions being such that in the partial downward movement of the segment lever, the roller 10 will engage the cam depression 12 and cause a forward movement of the slide bar. The downwardly extending edge portion, 12, of the off-set section, 9, is arranged at such an angle with respect to'the-pivot, 11, of the segment lever, 11, as to impart no movement I to the slide bar, 1, after the roller, 10, has

been moved downwardly and away from the cam depression, 12, all points of which are then equi-distant from the pivot point of No. 11. ltis to be understood, of course, that the entire series'of keys, 7, in each row impart the same or predetermined movement to the slide bar, 1, due to the roller, 10, riding along the edge, 12.

The keys are provided with the usual lateral lugs, 13 and 14, the former of which operates the segment lever and the latter of which operates the usual key-stop lever 15,

which is oi the usual construction and operation.

"With particular relation to the column lock-out of all keys, following the partial depression of a key of that column, it will be apparent from the above description that when a key is partially depressed, the segment lever is also partially operated with the effect to cause the roller 10, to enggge the cam depression 12 of the slide bar and move said bar forwardly. a predetermined distance. The partially-depressed key in its movement carries the pin 8 thereof to a position below the corresponding lug 6 of the slide bar, the pins 8 ofthe remaining keys of the column remaining in normal positions; that is on a plane slightly above the planes of the adjacent lugs 6 of the slide bar. As the slide bar Thus the partially-depressed key is held in partially depressed relation, and the remaining keys of that column cannot be depressed at all. The retention of the partially depressed key in such relation serves as a visible signal to the fact of the faulty operation.

In addition to the visible signal, the vention contemplates an audible signal, 1n-. cident to the operation of the key-sto lever 15. Ordinarily the operation of this keystop lever under a normal depression of a key, through engagement of the lug 14 of such key with the lever, serves to transmit action to the segment lever stops. For the purpose of this invention the key-stop lever 15 is connected by links 16 with the eolumnlock retainer bar 18, releasing all lock-up columns through the usual automatic means. A hammer 19 is secured on the lock-retainer bar 18,-

and so arranged that on a partial depression of a key, such lock retainer bar will be sulficiently rocked to cause the hammer 19 to strike a bell 20 and soundan audible alarm- Thus, by the partial depression of a key, such key is maintained in itsdepressed osition to serve as a visual signal of the m1soperation; the audible alarm is sounded as a furtherwarning; and all other keys of the articular column are locked out; that is eld against operation until the fault iscorrected.

Inasmuch as it is a well known expedient in this art or as disclosed in the above mentioned Patent No, 1,072,933, of l). E. Felt, hearing date of September 9, 1913, with especial reference to paragraph beginning with line 112 of age 4 of this patentdown to and including line 34: of page 5, to actuate the segment lever together with its auxiliary de tails, it is thought that a further disclosure movement and to lock all of t e remaining keys-of the column against depression and adapted during'complete depression of said key and return thereof to normal position to release said locking mechanism to render all of said keys immediately depressiblc, said locking mechanism including a segment lever, a, roller journaled thereon, a slide bar adapted to cooperate with the keys to lock the .same against movement, a spring for normally holding the bar in inefieotive position, 5 and a cam fixed to said bar for cooperation with said roller whereby the bar will be moved to efi'eetive locking position against the tension of the spring u on movement of the se'g ment lever in one (Erection. 10 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature this 7 day of August, 1925.

JOHN H. F. SILVER. 

